Friday, August 10, 2012

The Capsule Hotel – Hotel Camping

Preamble

When Dr. Dale and I were first talking about me joining the
St. Philip’s team, it was dream each of us had to work together and to still allow
me to explore the missional side of my call to ministry. So we came up with a plan that would allow me
the great privilege of serving at St. Philip’s during the academic year, and
then over the summer serve elsewhere in some mission ministry outside of St.
Philip’s, like helping to teach Leadership at Bandung Theological Seminary, in
Indonesia.

This summer our daughter Grace moved to Japan to begin her
Junior year abroad at International Christian University, in Tokyo. Because most flight to Jakarta fly through
Tokyo, Suzanne encouraged me to spend a
few days seeing Grace before heading on to Jakarta. Adventure Time, I think.

Over the years I’ve heard about the Japanese Capsule Hotels,
and since I had to spend the night somewhere in Tokyo, why not experience a
Capsule Hotel?

A Night in a Capsule Hotel

The first thing you notice about the Capsule Hotel is that
everything is smaller. The lobby could
not handle more than 2 or 3 checking in, in fact while I was leaving, so was a Japanese
boy’s softball team, and the lobby was almost impassable. The second thing you do is put your shoes in
a locker, and trade that key for what turns out to be a small safe key; there
are no room keys, because there are no rooms, just capsules, (actually there
are capsule hotel rooms, which have their own incredibly small bathrooms)

Mine is on the 4th floor, in a room with about 20
other capsules, top and bottom.

[a room of capsules]

[my capsule on the outside]

[with the "door" shut]

[inside my capsule]

[my and my capsule, and my stuff]

I slept great. Initially,
I was worried about the noise I would make getting in, or the sounds of others
making noise that would keep me awake, but after I got in and situated, I slept
well. In the morning I learned about
half of the capsules were occupied that night (I counted in the morning). Plus they give you a cute sleeping robe, and ask that you wear it.

It wasn’t that much of an adventure, other than
showering. The showers are only open at
night, and the customs in Japan are a bit different (as my daughter Grace
describes in her blog).

Is a Capsule Hotel for you?

Yes, if you are cheap, I am.

No if you are claustrophobic, I’m
not.

Yes, if you have better things to
do in a foreign town than hang out in your hotel (because there is no place to
hang).